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Cavus (High arch) feet

Cavus is the term used to describe feet that have high arches. Patients with this type of foot shape have more problems than those with flat feet but are much less common. They are often found running in families and don’t always cause problems but can do so. The main features are as follows:

Callus (hard skin) under the balls and outer border of the feet

A high arch or cavus foot

Tilting in of the heel

Causes excessive wear of the outside of shoes

Can cause frequent ‘giving way’ of the ankle

Often associated with a neurological cause

It is important for any patient with high arched feet to be examined to determine if there is a problem with the nervous system

The deformity often gets worse over time when a nerve problem is the cause

Shoe adjustments and insoles (orthotics) can be very helpful

Surgery may be necessary to correct the foot shape and prevent recurrence of the problem